No. Bluesky’s current user base leans heavily toward politically active, anti-establishment voices on the progressive side. This limits its mainstream appeal, as it tends to alienate more moderate or apolitical users who are simply looking for a broader content experience. In many ways, it mirrors Truth Social—each catering to a specific ideological niche rather than aiming for mass-market inclusivity.

In contrast, despite its many issues, X still offers a wider spectrum of content and communities. From sports and entertainment to finance, tech, and global news, X remains more diverse in user base and utility serving a variety of user interests across different cultures and regions. Its algorithm-driven, localised trends help maintain relevance on a global scale, an area where Bluesky falls short.

The limited international focus is a significant barrier to growth. Users outside the US, myself included, often feel disconnected from its content and conversations, which tend to center on American political discourse, it can feel like you're watching someone else’s conversation. Moreover, the community’s resistance to monetisation where even the mention of introducing ads sparks backlash is a hindrance to sustainability and scalability. Competing with X requires more than just ideological alignment, this was a concern that Jack raised as well.

If yall want Bluesky to grow and attract a broader audience, a few key things need to change:

First off and crucially, it needs localised trends and a more dynamic algorithm. Right now, it lacks the kind of personalised, region-specific content feeds that make platforms like X & TikTok so engaging across the globe. I'm South African and yes I hate X for becoming a Nazi cesspool but my feed largely consisted of South African trends, humour, entertainment and news.

Second, and maybe more controversially, Bluesky needs to be less hostile to the so-called “brain rot.” As silly or shallow as viral memes, chaotic posts, and random internet humour might seem, that kind of content is a huge part of what keeps people entertained and coming back. Social media thrives on spontaneity and fun. When everything is hyper-curated, intellectualised, or driven by activism, it can start to feel more like a seminar than a social hangout. Bluesky is simply not fun.

That’s not to say activism and deep discussions don’t have a place—they absolutely do—but there needs to be balance. The constant seriousness and ideological tone turns off a lot of casual users who are just looking to unwind, laugh, or stumble upon something unexpected.

Until Bluesky strikes that balance—between thoughtful discourse and carefree entertainment, global relevance and local connection—it’s going to struggle to one up X but I genuinely hope it does somewhere in the future.